Car-switch.



No. 637,|54. Patented Nov; [4, I899.

s. PARSON. I

CAR SWITCH.

(Application filed July 8, 1899.) (No Model.)

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WITNESSES: l INVENTOH fl zfl J j switch-tongue.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SWAN PARSON, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

CAR-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,154, dated November 14, 1899.

Application filed July 8, 1899. Serial No. 723,143. (No model.)

5 proved Car-Switch, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a car-switch and means for operating the same from a car, and has for its object to provide a simple device whereby a single operating part on the car may be employed for throwing a switchtongue in either direction.

To this end my invention consists of certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,

in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 shows, in elevation and partly in section, a portion of a track and a portion of a car provided with my improvements. Fig.

2 is a plan view with the dashboard of the car in section; and Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation, on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, of the switch-tongue and its operating projection.

A designates the track rail, and B the This tongue is constructed substantially in the ordinary manner, but is provided at a point approximately intermediate of its ends with a depression or socket B, in which are .received the operating pro- 5 jection C and the coiled spring D, which normally keeps said projection in an upper position against a flange or holder E, which is secured to the top of the switch-tongue B in any suitable manner for instance, by screws E-the flange E being countersunk, as shown in Fig. 3.

Upon the car F, I provide, within convenient reach of the motorman, a foot-plate Gr, preferably serrated on its upper surface and capable of turning in a bearing formed in the car-bottom F and in a hanger H, attached thereto.

The shaft G of the foot-plate G is surrounded by a coiled spring I, one end of which is fastened to the hanger H, while the other is seen red to a collar G secured to the said shaft G. Said collar also forms a means for limiting only to keep the foot-plate and the shoe in an uppermost position, but also has a torsional action.

When it is desired to change the position of the switch, the motorman depresses the shoe G by stepping upon the foot-plate G, so as to bring said shoe down to the level of the operating projection C of the switch. Then, according to the direction in which it is desired to throw the switch, the motorman by turning the foot-plate upon its vertical axis gives the shoe G such a position that the point of the wedge will be at one side of the longitudinal center of the shaft, and therefore will engage the operating projection C of the switch at one side. The other end of the wedge, however, will be upon the opposite side of the longitudinal center of the shaft, and thus an inclined surface will be presented to the operating projection C, causing the switch to be thrown to either side, as desired.

It will be understood that when the carwheels pass over the switch-tongue the operating'projection C will be depressed and will recede into the recess B of the switch, thereby avoiding injury to the said projection and to the switch.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent A car having journaled therein a vertical shaft, a wedge-shaped switch-operating pro jection at the lower end of the said shaft, a foot-plate at the upper end of said shaft, and a spring coiled upon the intermediate portion of said shaft and secured thereto by one end, while the other end of the spring is secured to the car so that the spring will act both longitudinally and by torsion.

SWAN PARSON.

Witnesses:

EVERARD BOLTON MARSHALL, OTTO J. KALT. 

